International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Time Use Statistics in the Context of Social Statistics Social and Housing Statistics Section United Nations Statistics Division

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Definition  Time use surveys – quantitative summaries of how individuals “spend” or allocate their time over a specified period Typically over 24 hours of the day

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Meeting data needs  Economic – quantifying household production and not- for profit activities  Energy consumption – patterns of consumption  Leisure and recreation  Culture and identity  Paid work  Social connectedness  Knowledge and skills

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Meeting data needs  Standard of living - wellbeing  Older people  Youth  Children  Second hand tobacco exposure  Exercise and sedentary activity  Occupational health and safety  Infectious disease transmission  Intra-household decision-making and division of labor

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Meeting data needs  In developing countries Netting economic work of the poor Improving estimates of national income Policy guidelines Example: Philippines - unpaid work adds 66% to the GDP - women’s share in GDP rose from 39% to 47% - women account for 60% of all unpaid work

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Meeting data needs  Contribution of women is often overlooked Global Gender Statistics Programme focuses on time use statistics  Informal sector  Unpaid work  Caring for family members  Intra-household balance

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Methodological issues  Three types of units of enumeration Household Household member Time  Seasonality  Workweek vs. weekends  Rare events

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Classification of time use  Trial International Classification of Activities for Time Use Statistics (ICATUS) Designed to  Collect data on time use  Measure unpaid work Type of activity complemented by the purpose of activity (what, with whom and what for)

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Classification of time use  Harmonized European Time Use Surveys (HETUS) Gainful work, study Domestic work Travel Sleep Meals, personal care Free time, unspecified time use

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Time use surveys since 1990  Time use surveys UNSD website  hic/sconcerns/tuse/default.aspx

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010  Over 62 countries conducted at least one national or pilot survey in the past 20 years  Most of them in developed countries  In seven countries only a pilot survey Albania, Armenia, Greece, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines and Slovak Republic  In three countries not by NSO Denmark, Ireland and Tanzania Time use surveys since 1990

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010  Twelve countries conducted more than one survey Australia, Canada, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, UK and USA  Six countries conducted a pilot and full-fledged survey Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey  Time use surveys not completely integrated as regular surveys in national statistical systems  Periodicity Time use surveys since 1990

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Concluding remarks  Powerful statistical instrument  Measure paid and unpaid work  Measure host of other phenomena Division of labor within family Characteristics of family life Social connectedness Civic participation Wellbeing Happiness?

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010  Complete diary vs. light form Further experiments necessary “Long form/Short form” paradigm? Advantages and disadvantages – need for evaluation Concluding remarks

International Workshop on Social Statistics Beijing, China 22 – 26 November 2010 Concluding remarks  International Programme on Time use Surveys Conduct such a survey at least once in ten years Implement international guidelines and statistical standards Disseminate results in timely manner Procedures for exchanging experiences and training